Stay Emotionally Grounded in Chaotic Times: John Wick & the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin
- Bruce Schutter
- Dec 7
- 5 min read
It’s not every day you run into John Wick at the grocery store. But there I was, standing in the frozen foods aisle, torn between buying organic kale or surrendering to ice cream, when I spotted him.
Dressed in his signature all-black attire, calm as a Zen master in aisle five, John was casually studying a pack of frozen dumplings. Even assassins need to eat.
Naturally, I had to ask the burning question: “John, with everything going on in the world, how do you stay emotionally calm and grounded?”
He smirked, reached into his pocket, and pulled out the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin I had given him. With assassin-level precision, he flipped it between his fingers.
“Simple,” he said. “This warrior coin keeps me grounded — every single day!”
A Warrior’s Mental Health Tool
Now, John and I are fellow Mental Health Warriors. I had shared my story with him a while back — how I struggled for 20 years with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD from my time as an EMT with the local rescue squad during high school and college. Those battles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. But in my darkest time, I discovered something life-changing: Mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge! So you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want.
To help Warriors stay grounded, I designed the Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin — a pocket-sized reminder that you are stronger than your struggles!
When life feels heavy, flip it over — the Warrior Wisdom on the back offers strength at the exact moment you need it. Wick learned that truth too. He’s been a Mental Health Warrior ever since — and he carries his Challenge Coin every single day.
Now this was a student-teaching-the-teacher moment. No way I was letting that pass.
I smirked. “Okay, Wick. Enlighten me.”
He nodded once. “Here are three ways to stay emotionally grounded in chaotic times. And trust me — they work.”
Tool 1: Grounded in the Present
John held up the coin and pressed it firmly between his fingers. “In the heat of chaos, whether it’s a firefight or just standing in line behind someone who won’t stop arguing with the self-checkout machine, I use this.”
“One time, I had about twenty guys coming after me in a hallway. I had two options: panic or stay grounded. So, I reached into my pocket, felt the weight of the coin, traced the ridges, and let its coolness slow me down. That simple act gave my brain something solid to hold onto.
The panic didn’t own me anymore — I did. I took a breath and reminded myself: I’m still here. I’m in control.”
Our Turn:
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or like you’re losing control, grab your Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. Notice its weight. Feel the design and even the temperature of the coin.
That physical connection pulls you out of the spiral and back into the present moment — not lost in worst-case scenarios.
I nodded. “So when I’m about to lose my patience with someone who won’t stop scrolling their phone at a green light, I should grab my coin instead of my horn?”
John smirked. “Exactly, my Mental Health Warrior friend.”
Tool 2: Mental Health Reset Button
John flipped the coin in his palm and caught it smoothly. “This thing? It’s not just for show. I use it as a reset button.”
“I was tracking a target across Rome. Everything was going sideways, and I was seconds from losing my cool.
Instead of letting frustration control me, I flipped my coin, caught it, and let that small action reset my focus. The flip broke the spiral — and reminded me I wasn’t powerless, I'm in charge!”
Our Turn:
When frustration hits fast — when my thoughts start racing and I feel myself slipping into that old spiral — I flip my Warrior Coin. Just once.
That tiny motion interrupts the chaos. The flip becomes a reset as it reminds me: I’m still in control.
And just to be clear —I don’t flip the coin to make big life decisions. It’s a mental health tool…not a “Should I quit my job and move to Fiji?” button.
Sometimes all we need is one small move to take our power back — and not let our challenges run the show!
Tool 3: Inner Warrior Empowerment
John held up the coin one last time. “Most importantly? It reminds me that I am a Mental Health Warrior.”
“When I was at my lowest — when I thought everything was lost — I held onto this. The weight of the coin in my hand reminded me of everything I had already survived.
It pulled me back from the brink and grounded me in a simple truth: I’m still here. I’ve fought before and I still have fight in me. That reminder is enough to keep moving forward when nothing else works.”
Our Turn:
When those heavy moments hit — the ones where it feels like the past is pulling me under — I reach for my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin. I hold it tight and feel its weight in my hand.
That weight reminds me of a powerful truth: I’m still here. I’ve fought before — and I can fight again.
That simple reminder keeps me moving forward on the days when my mind tries to convince me to quit. The coin doesn’t just ground me…it reminds me who I am: a Mental Health Warrior.
And Warriors rise — especially when life tries to knock them down!
Wrap Up
Just then, I glanced down at my cart. “We should probably actually buy food before we end up emotionally grounded but physically starving.”
John nodded. “Agreed. No one makes good decisions when they’re hangry.”
As I watched John Wick calmly bag his groceries, I pulled out my Mental Health Warrior Challenge Coin and felt its weight in my hand. His lessons reminded me of something vital:
This coin isn’t a souvenir — it’s your daily Mental Health Warrior tool. A tool you can use to stay calm, steady and unshakable, no matter what chaos comes swinging.
So, the next time it feels like the world is spinning out of control… grab your Warrior Coin.
Hold it tight, take a breath and remind yourself: I am a Mental Health Warrior — and Warriors rise!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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